The 2026 World Cup draw is out — and now comes the analysis, overanalysis, and excitement. Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban are joined by former MLS midfielder youth sports executive Kelly Gray to break down what the draw means for the U.S., the Bay Area, and the future of soccer in America. From expectations for the U.S. Men’s National Team to the global stars, underdog stories, and the long-term impact of hosting the World Cup, this episode looks beyond the brackets to what really matters.
Guest:
Kelly Gray
-Grew up in San Jose as an Earthquakes fan
-Won league championship with Leigh High School in SJ
-All-American in college at Portland
-2002 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick (5th overall) by the Chicago Fire
-Traded to Quakes in 2005 and team won the Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record
-Won MLS Cup in 2006 with Houston Dynamo
-Played 51 games for U.S. Under-20 National Team
-TV/radio experience: Former Earthquakes color commentator for CSN (now NBC Sports) Bay Area, Quakes Radio Network
Head of Cinch Sports (San Jose)
What We Cover:
- Initial reactions to the World Cup draw and why Bay Area fans felt disappointed
- Levi’s Stadium matchups and whether the “best games” really matter
- The U.S. Men’s National Team group: favorable draw or dangerous complacency?
- Why expectations for the U.S. must go beyond just advancing from the group
- The most entertaining and competitive groups to watch
- Group of Death debate and toughest paths to the knockout rounds
- Cities that “won” the draw (Miami, LA, New York)
- Star power heading into the World Cup: Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Vinícius Jr., De Bruyne, and more
- Young players poised to break out on the world stage
- African and underdog nations that could surprise
- How hosting the World Cup could reshape U.S. soccer and MLS
- Why the real impact of the World Cup is felt after the final whistle
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome and episode intro
01:20 – Kelly Gray’s background and playing career
02:06 – Reaction to the World Cup draw
04:02 – Why the draw was must-watch TV
06:33 – Growth of soccer in the U.S. since 1994
08:06 – MLS momentum and global visibility
11:36 – Best groups and must-watch matchups
13:57 – Toughest groups and Group of Death debate
16:37 – How far should the U.S. realistically go?
18:26 – U.S. player pool: MLS vs Europe
21:31 – Surprise teams and potential upsets
24:53 – Young stars and breakout storylines
26:18 – Messi, legacy players, and final World Cup narratives
30:16 – Why the World Cup creates life-changing moments
33:28 – Managing expectations and embracing the experience
35:07 – Long-term impact on MLS and U.S. soccer
37:12 – Kelly’s 1994 World Cup story at Stanford Stadium
40:05 – Final thoughts and wrap-up
Connect With Us:
Claudine Wong
Facebook & Instagram: ClaudineWongKTVU
TikTok: ClaudineKTVU
YouTube: ClaudineWong
Alex Lobban
Instagram: @thealexlobban
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